Expert: With 420,000 Quebec public workers off the job today, unions announce 3 more strike days

The unions representing hundreds of thousands of public sector workers who walked off the job today have announced three more strike days planned for November 21 to 23 unless a deal can be reached before then. About 420,000 public sector workers are striking as part of a one-day walkout meant to put pressure on the Quebec government. (CBC News)

Here is an expert from McGill University who can comment on this topic:

Barry Eidlin, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology

“The Legault government has not seemed very interested thus far in reaching an agreement with public sector workers. Even with the recently announced improvements, they are proposing wage increases that do not even keep up with rising inflation, amounting to effective wage cuts. There is no progress addressing workplace issues of forced overtime and scheduling, key quality of work-life issues that are essential to addressing labour shortages and providing quality public services. The CAQ government claims there is no money for public sector workers, but government spending is a question of priorities. The Common Front unions, with their 95% strike mandate, are now going to resort to a strike to try and get the government to reprioritize funding quality public services.”

Barry Eidlin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology. As a comparative historical sociologist, his research explores the changing relationship between social mobilization, political processes, and ideology in advanced capitalist democracies.

barry.eidlin [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)